What if he manages to conquer the whole China...what about the VPs he can gain with it? May he get autovictory with only historical perimeter and China or will he need another major objective?

He will need more that China fro auto victory. However, if he is able to push you back far enough, he may feel he can start to buy out some of the troops to be used elsewhere.

Subs - American subs Argonaut, Narwhal, and Nautilus can be upgraded to SST in 4/42. I send them to Melbourne early in the war to await upgrade. Afterwards, they are used to pick up bypassed LCUs. Some might be near Rabaul or Port Moresby that can be brought back to Australia for rebuilding.

Dutch subs O19 & O20 can be used to lay mines better than most. They carry M Mk IID Mines (20 built per month), and are not used on normal patrol.

Maneuver rating are different. Look at the Shark, Porpoise, and Perch Class and they have it at 80. They can get into and out of trouble (I look at trouble as being depth charged in shallow sea or base hexes) the best. S-Boats are close at 79. Look at the numerous Gato Class and they have only a 69. Great for patrols in ocean hexes, not shallow or coastal hexes where ASW is better.

Deployments have the Dutch subs ending up in India after the SRA falls. There are not enough British to cover this area. You will need a size 7 port or AS to reload almost all of your subs. I send a lot to the South Pacific early to cover this area and assist in helping PBYs in search. My opponent found out how being lazy near Truk and not using waypoints can be costly. CV Kaga had a bomb hit down near Suva and was returning to Truk. I had a sub in a patrol zone running directly SW from Truk and she got hit with a torpedo. Thus, place some subs in patrol zones that run directly away from Truk (SW, S, SE) and maybe to the north about 4 to 10 hexes away. Using the less than maneuverable Gato Class in parallel patrol zones about 6 to 8 hexes due south of Tokyo. I have them go south for 10 hexes and use about 6 subs. This will cover most of your opponents movements south from here.

What if he manages to conquer the whole China...what about the VPs he can gain with it? May he get autovictory with only historical perimeter and China or will he need another major objective?

He will need more that China fro auto victory. However, if he is able to push you back far enough, he may feel he can start to buy out some of the troops to be used elsewhere.

Subs - American subs Argonaut, Narwhal, and Nautilus can be upgraded to SST in 4/42. I send them to Melbourne early in the war to await upgrade. Afterwards, they are used to pick up bypassed LCUs. Some might be near Rabaul or Port Moresby that can be brought back to Australia for rebuilding.

Dutch subs O19 & O20 can be used to lay mines better than most. They carry M Mk IID Mines (20 built per month), and are not used on normal patrol.

Maneuver rating are different. Look at the Shark, Porpoise, and Perch Class and they have it at 80. They can get into and out of trouble (I look at trouble as being depth charged in shallow sea or base hexes) the best. S-Boats are close at 79. Look at the numerous Gato Class and they have only a 69. Great for patrols in ocean hexes, not shallow or coastal hexes where ASW is better.

Deployments have the Dutch subs ending up in India after the SRA falls. There are not enough British to cover this area. You will need a size 7 port or AS to reload almost all of your subs. I send a lot to the South Pacific early to cover this area and assist in helping PBYs in search. My opponent found out how being lazy near Truk and not using waypoints can be costly. CV Kaga had a bomb hit down near Suva and was returning to Truk. I had a sub in a patrol zone running directly SW from Truk and she got hit with a torpedo. Thus, place some subs in patrol zones that run directly away from Truk (SW, S, SE) and maybe to the north about 4 to 10 hexes away. Using the less than maneuverable Gato Class in parallel patrol zones about 6 to 8 hexes due south of Tokyo. I have them go south for 10 hexes and use about 6 subs. This will cover most of your opponents movements south from here.

As always, mate, thanks for your tipps! I'll have to re-order and re-deploy my whole sub force. I'll try to have some S class subs in the Alutinias, some ocean class at PH and Sydney and the dutch subs in India. I'll also use some Gato class in Indian Ocean. However it will take some time to get there...

I fear, i really fear, he's coming for russia once he had done with China. He could push the whole Jap army which is now operating in China in Manchuria, smash the soviets and win the war before 1.01.1943!...without bothering of Oz, India, Hawaii or other risky targets...

We're on hold for the week end, both spending these 2 days with our GFs...we'll be back tomorrow with a new turn!

Another list This one is more important than some others. What to do with your 'limited' number of construction type engineers available or as early war reinforcement for the Americans?? You need to build up bases (AF, Ports, and Forts), but which ones get the priority?? Some BFs have engineers, but a limited amount (that's why I didn't include them).

so first off, good job for jumping in with a challenging player like Rader! I think you are doing fine with specific things, just a couple of thoughts.

First, don't stress so much about China. Really look at what is there, if he takes it all, it really doesn't change the overall equation. So what he gets a few more HI, not so big a deal. He will free up some units but not as much as you might think because he will add lots of garrison requirements. So there will not be quite the numberless legions tramping through the co-prosperity sphere that you think. So the goal in China isn't 'winning' it is making him pay, either in time or losses. So he is blitzing, cool, let him. Just keep him honest with his siege forces.

Second, if you think he will hit Russia, prepare for it. Hole up some dudes in Vlad, but get most of them to the West (or do you say north on this map... or just up, or ??) where the MSR diverges from the border a bit. It is just too easy for him to cup off the coastal area and then you will feel sad :( But if you move to more defensible terrain and dig in then moving into the Motherland will make HIM very sad :) Really, you will get way more in the long term if he does beat the crap out of your Chinese guys (not very useful) and activates your Sovs (moderately useful). If you are ready for it and take some precautions to limit his ability to isolate and destroy lots of units in the initial rush you will have a fairly strong defense that will really tax him. And you have enough strength for little forays and raids that can sap him far more than China. So its all good!

Really, as the Allied player you just have to be sort of zen. someone once pointed out that the Japanese in the early war can go anywhere, but they can't go everywhere. So just ride it out and wait for things to settle down, he will not be strong everywhere, it just takes some time.

We've done 3 more turns (so to say 6 more days into the war)...things are heating up in China where we're arriving at the Climax... KB raided Perth, Indian Ocean and Diego Garcia... however in the afternoon i'll try to write down a comprehensive summary of what's happening

I wouldn't worry just yet, my Chinese Army had to face Japanese broken uber-artillery prior to it being patched and a massive strategic bombing campaign from day 1.

They are still in play, just, in 1943.

Hole up in defensive terrain, force him to be constantly having to outflank your forces. These things all take time as ground units move so slowly, and time is on your side.

Never seen anybody attack the Soviets, I'd be wary of the Vladivostock trap, but I don't really see what is to be gained there for him really aside from a new enemy. There are quite a few Soviet rifle division reinforcements later on and good LCUs are something sorely lacking in the Allied OOB, so I woulda thought that attacking the r00skies is not generally a wise idea for Japan.

Well Rader has already proven to this board that by mid 42, even if japan hasn't wiped out China yet, it can destroy every single soviet Army south of Chita, conquer all those bases and extabilish a new northern solid perimeter. There's an AAR (Taming the bear) which proves exactly that.

However, at the moment there's nothing much i can do about it. We have an HR that allows 1 week of activation to the soviets...that could be anough to move by rail most of my souther red army and so gaining some time with space...

Anyway, back on track.

It's now Jan 7th 42 and one month of war has exactly passed by.

I'll try to summerize the last 6 days.

Burma

After the Jap breaktrhough east of Rangoon, the Burma Army, defeated and demoralized is rushing to arrive at Mandalay in time, before the jap tanks can cut the retreat road to Ledo... An abbandoned Rangoon will be tomorrow stormed by Japanese 15th Army and its damned guards regiments.

SRA-DEI-PI.

Nothing much happened here. Manila is under siege but he didn't even started to bomb it (neither by land nor by air). He landed at Mersin in Malaya and the main jap army just reached Kualalumpur. The days of Singapore are almost over. In Java he's advancing towards Batavia. In the skies above the city the last 6 days have seen the last fierce resistance of the Dutch fighter force. Our poor pilots, outclassed, outgunned and outnumbered, gave their best and shot down a couple of zeros, but the Dutch air force now cesed to exist. The last word was sang today, by a bomber squadron which succesfully attacked and sank a jap AK south of Palembang (no Zero CAP here), causing the death of nearly 800 evil japs!

At the same time the KB, split in two, raided both Perth harbour and Diego Garcia, sinking something like 30 transports (mainly AKLs and AKs). The KB sprung out from nowhere and my cats didn't even spot it! Will have to be more cautious even in these "map corners" cause japan has legs to go pretty everywhere! Luckly my RN is safe... Thanks!

In NOPAC his dreadfull AMCs come in chasing my transports. After losing 4 of them (unescorted) east of Kodiak i sent my hunters (5 DDs and 2 AMCs of my own). A couple of old DDs found it and badly damaged the bastard (hopefully she won't make it back)...but i lost one DD in exchange .

His subs are driving me nuts between panama, San Diego and PH...that area, which isn't cover by my patrol planes, is the reign of jap subs...they scored several hits on unescorted transports, sinking at least 5 of them. I'm trying to organizing well escorted convoys...but it's hard...and expensive...and i simply don't have enough naval assets to both guard my capital ships and my convoys...

I'm trying to close the gap between PH and Fijii, sending forces and planes to Palmyra, Canton Is. and Pago Pagp...it will take some time however before a safety corridor can be created.

What else? oh yes, China...well...i'll need a screenshot for that...just know that the situation is growing worse. Everything South of Kweijang is in japs' dirty hands. The pocket of Changsha now is firmly closed and jap armies are advancing in force towards Chungking, covered by hundreds of bombers and zeros...the AVG is harmless... Yenan, Sian and everything south and east of Liuchow is lost. Now i'm simply running trying to get somewhere safe and breath a little bit...but he doesn't give me no rest!!!

Now let's just wait for the capitulation of my last pockets of resistance (Singa, Batavia and Manila) and then we're all looking forward to see where he will go next...the world holds his breath

If your being attacked around Addu and Diego Garcia, then you will need to take the longer route and sent ships to Cape Town to/from India and Australia vs going down the western map edge. I would imagine he was trying to get NW of Colombo and come down to hit the base and close off your retreat route north to safety. An expensive picket line you had there.

The highest priority for escorts goes with CVs (at least 6 DDs per TF), then warships, AO/TKs, and finally other transports. You need just one or two with transports for now until you get more.

If your being attacked around Addu and Diego Garcia, then you will need to take the longer route and sent ships to Cape Town to/from India and Australia vs going down the western map edge. I would imagine he was trying to get NW of Colombo and come down to hit the base and close off your retreat route north to safety. An expensive picket line you had there.

The highest priority for escorts goes with CVs (at least 6 DDs per TF), then warships, AO/TKs, and finally other transports. You need just one or two with transports for now until you get more.

Thanks mate. How am i supposed to use the longest route? From Karachi it seems the only way to get to Cape Town is to risk going to the western edge of the map. From Aden it doesn't seem to work... Same for Oz...how am i supposed to move ships from Cape Town to Oz in an alternative route? Thanks.

BTW, on the 9th/10th Jan he came for Colombo with his KB...sunk 2 DDs, 1 AS and a couple of other Aux ships that were struggling to get to Colombo once without fuel (they were still escaping from Java)... not much but another 150 points in the bag for him. There's nothing much left around Colombo or Karachi to sink...i've sent everything back to Cape Town just in time...

In China...well...what to say...i'm always outrunned...i'll post a screenshot, however now he has ouflanked my brand new positions with no less than 13 units and 1300 AVs...and now between him and Chungking there simply...NOTHING!...depressing. His ability to stop my movements using the air army is completely destroying every attempt of mine to form a defensive line...i try to move back...change the op mod to "move"...he bombs my units and they come back to "combat" thus letting his fast units to outmanouvre me, outflank me and cutting me retreat route and the supply lines...

My first air units are now ready to be withdrawn...pilots didn't learn that much during these months of training...hopefully few more months will give me a decent pilot reserve (especially for what concerns naval search and ASW capabilities that i badly need!)

Some screenshots from China...you can see how bad the situation is right now. He's destroying my southern defenses with two big hooks and he's simply steamrolling everything up in the north, opening thus the northern door to central china...

Thanks mate. How am i supposed to use the longest route? From Karachi it seems the only way to get to Cape Town is to risk going to the western edge of the map. From Aden it doesn't seem to work... Same for Oz...how am i supposed to move ships from Cape Town to Oz in an alternative route? Thanks.

Nomad is correct on the routing. Go from Abadan to Socotra to Cape Town (refuel) to Australia (Perth area) includes Albany. Unload and return. You cannot afford to lose those TKs this early in the game.

You will need to form up two large TK TFs. Esso Type-T Class, Shell Type-A Class, and 2 DE Bittern Class (these have a speed of 16). Federal Type-E Class, BP Type-D Class, and 2 PG Indus Class (have a speed of 14).

I've thought that, once drydocked, ships could be immune from air bombing. Don't ask me why. Think i've read it (or i believe i read it) somewhere in the forums. However i've left the POW drydocked at Colombo, while the rest of the RN was safe off map...she needed some more repair that could not be done in "readiness" status... Well, you can guess how it went...the KB arrived, bombed everthing that was afloat in those waters and then pounded the port.

I got only myselef to blame for this defeat. There's no need to call in cause bad luck, bad dice and rolls or other stuff. Plain and simple: i've been an idiot.

However, war goes on and we're now by 11th Jan 42.

Nothing much happened a part from this.

In Burma the Imperial Guard divisions is rushing towards Mandalay and i fear i will be cut off for good from Ledo with most of my Burma Army...

in China we finally manage to give a bloody nose to the japs. Southeast of Chungking (don't remember the name of the base) my exausted chinese corps that just arrived in place escaping from the Nanning-Whuchow pocket managed to inflict a defeat to the japs. However this position is already flanked by a jap army of 13 units advancing on its left side, aiming at Chungking...

At Sian 1800 Jap AVs conquered the abbandoned place and are now ready to push forward...only god know how much more i can resist in these conditions...i'm trying to delay him everywhere with partisan actions and with cutting his supply lines but it seems that japanese troops can march 40 miles a day with only a sip of water and a bunch of black bread.

Still deciding what to do with Hawaii....I've read FatR AAR where he invaded Hawaii in march 42...and simply steamrolled every defence the americans brought there...I just realized that the Hawaii can be a death trap for the allies...i could lose there all my LCUs...and with the mighty KB around there won't be a chance for my CVs to force the blockade...

What to do???

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 10, 42

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Koggala at 28,50 NEAR COLOMBO Weather in hex: Partial cloud

I didn't mention (but i'm becoming repetitive) that he's still invading every single base or dot on the map and that in China it takes something like 15 min (pressing ESC) to bypass the constant bombing air campaign conducted by the IJAAF and IJNAF there... worse than in Normandy...worse than ever...

Many players have wondered whether placing ships in the yards insulated them from damage, so don't feel like a dummy.

The Chinese can perform decently behind lots of forts or on good defensive terrain. They can make good stands in forests, mountains and rough hexes. Get them there and dig in. Don't ever let a Chinese stack get caught in agricultural fields or open terrain. If they are forced to retreat, the loss total will make what you just did to the Japanese seem like a day relaxing in a hammock.

As for the IJA force at Sian (1800 AV), that's not that big a force. The Japanese can come with alot more if they wish to do so. But they also tend to have supply problems in that area once they get that far, so your opponent may not push much further. Be sure to cobble together a defensive line on the yellow road in the forested hex between Sian and Kienko. You don't want the Japanese marching down that road towards Chungking.

Good luck!

P.S. In my game vs. Q-Ball, I lost PoW and Renown at the start of the war because I didn't correctly understand the house rule (I thought I couldn't issue orders to them because they begin in a port hex). So perhaps I take the prize for the dumbest use of Force Z.

Don't freak out about an invasion of Hawaii, it is really one of the best things that can happen for you. Pearl Harbor itself is a very very tough place to take, the CD there will just shred any ships that come acalling. He can definately take all the other locations, build up airbases, gain control of the air, and bomb you daily (I have had this happen in a recent game). The main thing is to pump as much supply into PH as you can, like a million or so if possible. Then you just let him bomb. He will be taking AA and ops losses, and most of all, he burns so much fuel on this op that he will not only hamstring his offensive power elsewhere, he will probably start hurting his economy more than the allies anemic sub campaign can in the early war.

and your position in china doesn't look so bad. remember that when he is your rear, you are also in his. don't think so much about stopping his speartip, think about stopping his supplies.

I would guess he will switch his air out of china when he is ready for his real 'maximum extent' offensive. Most japanese players go for either Northern Australian, or India (including Sri Lanka). Rader is not a conventional opponent though, so who knows.... but that will show you where it will go. remember, the end is not in doubt.

Don't want to be the bearer of bad news but considering the date and the screenies of your positions, I would have to say that you are totally hosed in China. My experience is that even the most experienced Allied player is doomed to lose China vs a determined Japenese effort. However, it should take at least two years or more.

I have to be honest here. I can't believe that a player of Rader's skill level would foist scenario #2 on an new player such as you. What was he thinking and what pleasure could he possibly get out of it? Sorry, it escapes me and comes off as very cheesy? Scenario #2 gives the Japanese player too many advantages and it gives even highly experienced Allied players fits. He even managed to stack the house rules to his benefit. I am not being critical of your efforts at all-you are very game to try it. But it sort of looks like a puppy getting slammed by a truck.....

On the plus side, you can look upon this as a good learning experience and use the knowledge gained in your next game-so soldier on.

It is a bit late as you already know it by now. But in China the best and only real defence is to delay and bug out until the bulk of your troops are in high defence terrain. However, the pitfall is this gives up most of the Chinese industry to Japan and creates a supply nightmare that you just will not overcome.

Many players have wondered whether placing ships in the yards insulated them from damage, so don't feel like a dummy.

The Chinese can perform decently behind lots of forts or on good defensive terrain. They can make good stands in forests, mountains and rough hexes. Get them there and dig in. Don't ever let a Chinese stack get caught in agricultural fields or open terrain. If they are forced to retreat, the loss total will make what you just did to the Japanese seem like a day relaxing in a hammock.

As for the IJA force at Sian (1800 AV), that's not that big a force. The Japanese can come with alot more if they wish to do so. But they also tend to have supply problems in that area once they get that far, so your opponent may not push much further. Be sure to cobble together a defensive line on the yellow road in the forested hex between Sian and Kienko. You don't want the Japanese marching down that road towards Chungking.

Good luck!

P.S. In my game vs. Q-Ball, I lost PoW and Renown at the start of the war because I didn't correctly understand the house rule (I thought I couldn't issue orders to them because they begin in a port hex). So perhaps I take the prize for the dumbest use of Force Z.

No, I forgot that there is only one Naval Movement Phase on turn 1, and lost them myself, ask Vettim89.

Gotta say, to be honest, that Rader didn't want to have a game with me, considering my non-existant experience. I was the one who forced him and convinced him that it was a fair trade! So blame me, not him, for fighting a nut too tough to crack

I know i'm doomed in china. I've always known. I've tried to study evert AAR out there to understand the basics of chinese defence before the beginning of this match...however nothing could prepare me to such an enourmous japanese effort. What made...what really made the difference, me think, is the air assets brought there by Japan. His ability to bomb back to the stoneage every single hex he was going to attack made any effort of mine pointless.

Look at the last screen. He's already at the very gates of Chungking. Despite my last minor victories, he managed to outflank me within less than 6 days...despite i did my best to stop his supply lines...maybe he's using paradrops of supplies...an air-bridge...whatever...anyway he's marching so fast that no matter what i do...if i try to defend a good-terrain hex he will simply by-pass me, blocking my movements with hundreds of bombers that will shift the movement mode of my units from "move" to "combat"...and the result is under everyone's eyes.

Anyway, war goes on even without china. I have to be ready to defend Oz, India, Russia, Sopac and Hawaii.

POW is 99/30/3....which means she's doomed for more than a year. KB payed 2 more days of visiting her...pounding colombo harbour taking it back to the ironage.

Batavia held for for two more days, while i've lost the city just west of Sian in China...

Manila and Singa are still breathing (no bombings, nor any other attacks...)

managed however to sink the third of his dreaded AMCs that was raiding my SOPAC routes...feels good!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 12, 42

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Enderbury Island at 160,148, Range 12,000 Yards East of Fiji Japanese aircraft no flights

Japanese aircraft losses No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships AMC Hokoku Maru, Shell hits 29, and is sunk

Allied Ships CA Australia CL Leander CL Achilles, Shell hits 1

DAILY JAP AIR CAMPAIGN IN CHINA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

I've seen that AAR of FatR where he invaded Hawaii...it's a mess once japan puts a foot there. All the coms from West Coast to Oz are almost interdicted and, with the annihilation of the whole pacific fleet assets (talking about ships and LCUs) the capabilities of the US to get back into a fighting war strongly decrease...FatR says that, in mid 1943, the expenses (in fuel and other war assets) due to the Hawaii invasion have been strongly re-paid in terms of VPs and in terms of strategic situation....

GreyJoy, if the KB is in the Bay of Bengal, you have an opportunity to raid in the Pacific. You might use small CL/DD forces here and there, and your carriers somewhere else. Whenever a player reveals the KB's location, you have to find a way to take advantage of that knowledge.

Any chance of cutting off the IJ supply line in China? Spread some of your battered units out all over the place; then, when they are bypassed, moved back to the road and sever Japan's supply lines. Those Japanese units are getting pretty far forward now and supply may be their Achilles Heel.

You're still very early in your game, so you have a long way to go until you can begin to think you have a chance to blunt Japan's drive. In my Scenario Two games, I found that the Allies were pretty much at the mercy of Japan until very late summer of '42. As you go into the autumn months, you'll have enough troops and ships to begin blunting major IJ commitments. If your opponent doesn't go for India or Oz, you should be okay. But assume the worst - that he'll go for one or the other. Come up with a plan for what you'll do somewhere else when you know where he's committed. Try to preposition troops, supplies, ships, planes as early as possible so that you can try to jab quickly and effectively somewhere "soft."

As a side note, many forum members don't seem to enjoy AARs with lengthy copy-and-paste combat report segments. Doing away with them will force you to summarize in your own words what's going on; that may seem tedious at first, but your readers will love your for it.

Gotta say, to be honest, that Rader didn't want to have a game with me, considering my non-existant experience. I was the one who forced him and convinced him that it was a fair trade! So blame me, not him, for fighting a nut too tough to crack

I know i'm doomed in china. I've always known. I've tried to study evert AAR out there to understand the basics of chinese defence before the beginning of this match...however nothing could prepare me to such an enourmous japanese effort. What made...what really made the difference, me think, is the air assets brought there by Japan. His ability to bomb back to the stoneage every single hex he was going to attack made any effort of mine pointless.

Look at the last screen. He's already at the very gates of Chungking. Despite my last minor victories, he managed to outflank me within less than 6 days...despite i did my best to stop his supply lines...maybe he's using paradrops of supplies...an air-bridge...whatever...anyway he's marching so fast that no matter what i do...if i try to defend a good-terrain hex he will simply by-pass me, blocking my movements with hundreds of bombers that will shift the movement mode of my units from "move" to "combat"...and the result is under everyone's eyes.

Anyway, war goes on even without china. I have to be ready to defend Oz, India, Russia, Sopac and Hawaii.

POW is 99/30/3....which means she's doomed for more than a year. KB payed 2 more days of visiting her...pounding colombo harbour taking it back to the ironage.

Batavia held for for two more days, while i've lost the city just west of Sian in China...

Manila and Singa are still breathing (no bombings, nor any other attacks...)

managed however to sink the third of his dreaded AMCs that was raiding my SOPAC routes...feels good!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 12, 42

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Enderbury Island at 160,148, Range 12,000 Yards East of Fiji Japanese aircraft no flights

Japanese aircraft losses No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships AMC Hokoku Maru, Shell hits 29, and is sunk

Allied Ships CA Australia CL Leander CL Achilles, Shell hits 1

DAILY JAP AIR CAMPAIGN IN CHINA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

I've seen that AAR of FatR where he invaded Hawaii...it's a mess once japan puts a foot there. All the coms from West Coast to Oz are almost interdicted and, with the annihilation of the whole pacific fleet assets (talking about ships and LCUs) the capabilities of the US to get back into a fighting war strongly decrease...FatR says that, in mid 1943, the expenses (in fuel and other war assets) due to the Hawaii invasion have been strongly re-paid in terms of VPs and in terms of strategic situation....

I am playing 2 RA70 senarios(one against FatR(IJ)). Against fatR...Oz route is wide open, but you do need to place 2 divisions at Xmas island to insure the route stays open if japs go to hawaii. FatR knows the program inside out. He is tough to beat tactically, his weakness is when his toys get broken.

In my other game as IJ against DirtyHarry(allies)..He pulled all the china infantry back to chungking and did not allow any chungking reinforcements to leave CK... As Japan I sit on CK w/ 3 jap army groups and am not able to take the hex..I came in from the north, took losses then could not get enough supply to replentish the IJA divisions, which did lose 20% of attack value....If you can figure out how to cut jap supply if he bypasses any of your units you should plan on cutting his road supply. In my game w/ DH the japs have a real fuel problem w/RA70 and if japan reaches to far in that senario they can really get hampered later. Bigred.

I've been following your AAR with Rader with great interest since I've been playing a GC vs. him for over a year now. Despite playing scenario 1 (more allied side friendly), he's proven to be a very tough opponent. Good luck in your match, especially as it looks like he's applying some of the things he's learned in the match vs. me.

My best advice is to look at the map and figure out what you absolutely can't lose and start building a defense around these areas. A few impregnable citadels is better than lots of moderately held areas. Reinforce the citadels and only fight delaying actions for anything else.